What is the meaning of God or no God - Atheist Nexus2017-09-26T20:25:01Zhttp://atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/what-is-the-meaning-of-god-or-no-god?xg_source=activity&id=2182797%3ATopic%3A2028119&feed=yes&xn_auth=noNod and a wink to Ruth!tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-05-05:2182797:Comment:22271652013-05-05T21:39:14.226ZEdward Teachhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/edwardteach
<p>Nod and a wink to Ruth!</p>
<p>Nod and a wink to Ruth!</p> I remember making that argume…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-08-21:2182797:Comment:20339412012-08-21T05:22:38.618ZRuth Anthony-Gardnerhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/RuthAnthonyGardner
<p>I remember making that argument to a guy I was dating as we drove home from a party. I'd had nausea, and he mocked, "You'll never convince me that throwing up is a peak experience." I've forgotten his name and face, 45 years later, but the moment was insightful for me. It helped me to realize that even nausea was an interesting and worthwhile life experience <em>in the right context</em>. Ah-Ha!…</p>
<p></p>
<p>I remember making that argument to a guy I was dating as we drove home from a party. I'd had nausea, and he mocked, "You'll never convince me that throwing up is a peak experience." I've forgotten his name and face, 45 years later, but the moment was insightful for me. It helped me to realize that even nausea was an interesting and worthwhile life experience <em>in the right context</em>. Ah-Ha!</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.allhealthsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Nausea1.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.allhealthsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Nausea1.jpg"/></a></p> Well said, Asa!
Hang tough,…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-08-14:2182797:Comment:20291972012-08-14T18:45:52.565ZEdward Teachhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/edwardteach
<p>Well said, Asa!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Hang tough, Bill. Death will take care of itself. No need to help it along. This is your one and only opportunity to appreciate (notice I didn't say, "enjoy") the full range of the human experience. The experience includes everything you love, everything you hate, and everything in between. </p>
<p></p>
<p>It is interesting that we appreciate the full range of emotions when we watch movies. We laugh at comedies, cry at tragedies, get excited by action flix,…</p>
<p>Well said, Asa!</p>
<p></p>
<p>Hang tough, Bill. Death will take care of itself. No need to help it along. This is your one and only opportunity to appreciate (notice I didn't say, "enjoy") the full range of the human experience. The experience includes everything you love, everything you hate, and everything in between. </p>
<p></p>
<p>It is interesting that we appreciate the full range of emotions when we watch movies. We laugh at comedies, cry at tragedies, get excited by action flix, etc., but we have a lot more trouble appreciating the same emotions when they are provided in three dimensions ;-)</p> Well written, Ted, especially…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-08-14:2182797:Comment:20290922012-08-14T17:52:11.869ZLilliehttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/Lillie
<p>Well written, Ted, especially the last paragraph.</p>
<p>Well written, Ted, especially the last paragraph.</p> Bill:
Dealing with overwhelmi…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-08-14:2182797:Comment:20290482012-08-14T15:36:28.175ZTed Foureagleshttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/TedFoureagles
<p>Bill:</p>
<p>Dealing with overwhelming personal tragedy does make belief in an afterlife attractive -- perhaps even temporarily useful, but it does not make it true. That's not an indictment of whether or not it is true -- just that our hopes don't make it so. My favorite analogy is that life, and thus consciousness, is like a wave in an ocean or a musical note. It's an emergent property of matter &amp; energy -- an amusing pattern within the larger field that runs its course and then…</p>
<p>Bill:</p>
<p>Dealing with overwhelming personal tragedy does make belief in an afterlife attractive -- perhaps even temporarily useful, but it does not make it true. That's not an indictment of whether or not it is true -- just that our hopes don't make it so. My favorite analogy is that life, and thus consciousness, is like a wave in an ocean or a musical note. It's an emergent property of matter &amp; energy -- an amusing pattern within the larger field that runs its course and then collapses back into the field or onto the shore of the next note. Nothing is gained or lost except the perception of pattern within the experience of those perceiving it. This could be taken as an idea that the pattern itself is something that is conserved, which is an interesting thought that I see no reason beyond wishful thinking to believe.</p>
<p> I hope that your troubles abate, by whatever means. My personal hope is that we human beans can figure out how to deal with life as it is without resort to philosophies that diminish the one life we know we have in favor of an unknown we hope to have.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>}}}}</p> Beautifully written, Asa.tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-08-13:2182797:Comment:20287482012-08-13T22:48:30.332ZLilliehttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/Lillie
<p>Beautifully written, Asa.</p>
<p>Beautifully written, Asa.</p> Bill;
You are not alone, as n…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-08-13:2182797:Comment:20283962012-08-13T17:50:55.281ZAsa Watcherhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AsaWatcher
<p>Bill;</p>
<p>You are <span style="text-decoration: underline;">not</span> alone, as nearly <span style="text-decoration: underline;">all</span> of us have had some sort of staggering personal adversity . . . . or will have.</p>
<p>When considering an alternative to living in the face of your tragedy, what comes after life should <span style="text-decoration: underline;">not</span> be a consideration.</p>
<p>What you should focus upon is life itself, its potential, and all the wonderful…</p>
<p>Bill;</p>
<p>You are <span style="text-decoration: underline;">not</span> alone, as nearly <span style="text-decoration: underline;">all</span> of us have had some sort of staggering personal adversity . . . . or will have.</p>
<p>When considering an alternative to living in the face of your tragedy, what comes after life should <span style="text-decoration: underline;">not</span> be a consideration.</p>
<p>What you should focus upon is life itself, its potential, and all the wonderful things that <span style="text-decoration: underline;">will</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">happen</span> for you. </p>
<p>As the Buddha said: “This, too, shall pass”.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that here at Atheist/Nexus you will find some of the most compassionate people you will encounter over the course of your entire lifetime.</p>
<p>I’ve found that atheists love more intensely, empathize more easily, and are more generous with their efforts to elevate <span style="text-decoration: underline;">all</span> our lives to that level of happiness achievable simply because we are human beings.</p>
<p>Search on, Bill. It’s a great adventure.</p> Nap, the King James Version i…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-08-13:2182797:Comment:20283782012-08-13T15:21:19.836ZLilliehttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/Lillie
<p>Nap, the King James Version is the dreamy writing. It reads like poetry and is difficult to understand. Now modern versions interpret it anyway they please to their advantage. However, when I was thirty and still pretending to be a believer, I decided I needed to read the bible all of the way through. "Good News for Modern Man" had just been published so I thought that would be easier to understand. It was very simply written, too simply. It was hilarious and absolutely ridiculous. I…</p>
<p>Nap, the King James Version is the dreamy writing. It reads like poetry and is difficult to understand. Now modern versions interpret it anyway they please to their advantage. However, when I was thirty and still pretending to be a believer, I decided I needed to read the bible all of the way through. "Good News for Modern Man" had just been published so I thought that would be easier to understand. It was very simply written, too simply. It was hilarious and absolutely ridiculous. I don't know if any are still around, but if you ever have a weak moment and want to read it, this is the one to select.</p> Of course, you have these que…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-08-13:2182797:Comment:20282422012-08-13T03:32:07.343ZLilliehttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/Lillie
<p>Of course, you have these questions if you have just come through a personal tragedy. I agree with Dr. Clark. You need time to heal and postpone such threatening questions for a time when you are much stronger mentally and physically. Most of us here have dealt with our own personal tragedies to get us here. We have come out on the other side but it did not happen over night. Lean on those who will give you positive comfort and support. They are out there as are those on A/N who only…</p>
<p>Of course, you have these questions if you have just come through a personal tragedy. I agree with Dr. Clark. You need time to heal and postpone such threatening questions for a time when you are much stronger mentally and physically. Most of us here have dealt with our own personal tragedies to get us here. We have come out on the other side but it did not happen over night. Lean on those who will give you positive comfort and support. They are out there as are those on A/N who only wish you well. Stay strong.</p> Sorry to hear you have been t…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-08-13:2182797:Comment:20279142012-08-13T00:56:16.055ZDr. Allan H. Clarkhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/DrAllanHClark
<p>Sorry to hear you have been through something so terrible it makes you feel this way. Many of us have been there as well in the past and feel genuine sympathy for anyone suffering as much as you. It may not help much, but in my experience of 77 years, I have found that if you can hold on, things may get better. If you can find help, that would be a good thing too. The important thing is to know that you are not alone.</p>
<p>This puts your question in an entirely different light and though…</p>
<p>Sorry to hear you have been through something so terrible it makes you feel this way. Many of us have been there as well in the past and feel genuine sympathy for anyone suffering as much as you. It may not help much, but in my experience of 77 years, I have found that if you can hold on, things may get better. If you can find help, that would be a good thing too. The important thing is to know that you are not alone.</p>
<p>This puts your question in an entirely different light and though it doesn't change anything I wrote, at this point any belief that helps you to hang on should be embraced. Getting through this is your first task, sorting things out is for down the line a bit.</p>
<p>Take care and let us know how you are doing.</p>